Hoop type toy



May 7, 1957 D. M DONALD HOOP TYPE TOY Filed Nov. 18. 1955 I INVENTOR.

David Mc Donald United StateS. P e

HOOP TYPE TOY David McDonald, Birmingham, Ala. Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,663 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-220) This invention relates to a hoop type toy and has for an object the provision of such a toy in which the hoop is operatively connected to a hoop stick, whereby the hoop does not leave its propelling means, thereby providing a safe toy for children to play with adjacent street areas.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy of the character designated in which the hoop portion thereof is in the form: of concentric rings rigidly connected to each other and the propelling means is in the form of a continuous length of material bent so as to extend through the innermost concentric ring and enclose both rings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hoop type toy in which the direction of travel thereof may be readily changed by merely changing the directionof movement of the propelling means. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hoop type toy of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture, and one which shall be readily adapted for mass production.

A toy embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental isometric view showing the manner in which the propelling means incloses the hoop member;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevational view, drawn to a smaller scale, showing the propelling member in a reverse position to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, 1 show a hoop member 10, comprising outer and inner concentric rings 11 and 12, respectively. The concentric rings 11 ad 12 are connected by radially extendinng spokes 13 which are secured in place by any suitable means, such as by welding as shown at 14, or th ewheel may be cast in the form shown.

The means for propelling the hoop embodies a hoop stick 16 having a handle portion 17 at one end thereof and a hoop engaging portion at the other end thereof. Preferably, the hoop stick 16 is formed from a single length of material, such as a metal rod. The hoop engaging portion is formed by bending the rod so as to provide parallel leg members 18 and 19 which are spaced from each other a distance for receiving the rings 11 and 12, as shown. The ends of the'leg members 18 and 19 are connected to each other outwardly of the outermost concentric ring 11 by a suitable spacer member 21. As shown in the drawings, the innermost ends of the 2,791,064 Patented May 7, 1957 ice leg members 18 and 19 are bent reversely to provide short leg members 18a and 19a which extend in planes parallel to, and spaced from the remaining portions of the leg members 18 and 19. With the hoop stick 16 thus constructed, the portion of the metal rod which connects the ends of the leg members 18a and 19a is curved, as at 22 for receiving the inner portion of the innermost concentric'ring 12, as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, the assembly and operation of my improved toy will be readily understood. With the hoop stick 16 bent as described above, the leg member 19 is inserted inwardly of the innermost concentric ring 12 and then moved outwardly along the opposite side of the rings 11 and 12 from the leg member 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. With the outermost end of the leg member 19 positioned outwardly of the outermost concentric ring 11, the spacer member 21 is secured to both leg members by any suitable means, such as by welding.

To operate the toy, the hoop stick 16 is pushed forwardly whereby the curved portion 22 engages the inner portion of the innermost concentric ring 12 and causes the hoop to roll forward. With the hoop stick 16 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the leg members 18 and 19 are above and forwardly of the curved portion 22, thereby aiding in aligning the hoop relative to the leg members. To reverse the direction of travel of the hoop 10, the operator merely moves the hoop stick 16 whereby force is applied in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the curved portion 22 is positioned above and forwardly of the leg members 18 and 19. Also, the direction of movement of the hoop 10 can be reversed by turning the entire hoop around without changing the position of the hoop stick relative to the hoop.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved hoop type toy which eliminates entirely the danger of the hoop leaving its propelling means, thereby providing a safe toy for children to play with adjacent streets. Also, by constructing the hoop stick of a single length of material and providing a hoop in the form of concentric rings joined to each other, my toy can be made with a minimum expenditure of labor and materials.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hoop type top, a hoop member having outer and inner concentric rings joined rigidly to each other, substantially parallel leg members extending along 0pposite sides of said rings and joined to each other inwardly of the innermost ring, the innermost ends of said leg members being bent reversely to extend in planes parallel to and spaced from the remaining portions of said leg members, and a hoop stick comprising an elongated handle member connecting said leg members to each other outwardly of the outermost ring whereby both rings are enclosed by said leg members.

2. In a hoop type toy, a hoop member having outer and inner concentric rings joined rigidly to each other, a hoop stick formed from a single length of material ring and bent upon itself to define substantially parallel leg members dispoed at opposite sides of saidrings; and means connecting said leg members to each other outwardly of the outermost ring whereby both rings are inclosed by the hoop stick, the inner ends of said leg members being bent reversely to extend in planes parallel to and spaced from the remaining portions of said leg members.

3. A hoop type toy as defined in claim 2 in which the portion of the material connecting the inner ends of the leg members i 's-curved in a direction-to reccivathrihner surface of the innermost concentric ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

